Vehicle-brake



(No Model.)

J. P. GREGORY. VEHICLE BRAKE.

N0. 447,512.- Patented Mai".

' To all whom it may concern.-

Nrrno STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J O$EPH PINKNEY GREGORY, OF LAFAYETTE, TEXAS.

VEHICLE-BRAKE.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,512, dated March 3, 1891.

Application filed November 24, 1890. Serial No. 372,468. (No model.)

Be it known that I, J OSEPH PINKNEY GREG- ORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lafayette, in the county of Upshur and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Brakes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic vehiclebrakes; and it has for its object to generally improve upon the construction and render more efficient in operation this class of appliances.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the same consists in the peculiar construction and in the novel combination, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, like letters of reference indicating like parts throughout the several views, and in which drawings Figure 1 is a side View of a vehicle provided with my improved brake. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

The running-gear of the wagon is of ordinary construction, the pole being pivoted between the projecting ends of the bounds a by means of a rod a, which passes through the ends of the hounds and the frame b, attached to the pole, as well as through the rear end of the pole. The rod A is loosely secured to the under side of the pole and is adapted to have a free sliding movement both backward and forward through the staples A. The front end of the rod A terminates in a hook or loop A to which are secured the ordinary chains, which are connected with the neckyok'es. The rear end of the rod A, which terminates at a point a short distance in advance ofv the forward axle B of the vehicle, is provided with a pivotal or hinged connection with the front end of the short bar or link 0, and a metallic casing O is provided at this point of connection to prevent the joint from becoming obstructed in any manner. The casing O is loosely sleeved over the joint and is of a diameter sufficient to admit of a sufficient movement of the joint and at the same time prevent too great a movement.

The rear end of the link C terminates in a loop 0 which engages the clevis D, through which clevis the pin or bolt d, connecting the axle to the body of the vehicle, passes.

The rod E is provided at its forward end with a loop 6, which engages the cross-bar d of the clevis D. Said bar or rod E extends from the point of connection with the clevis to a point a short distance to the rear of the rear axle, being loosely sleeved within suitable keepers or staples e The brake-bar F is secured at its longitudinal center to the barE at a point ashort distance in advance of the rear wheels, and is provided at its ends with the brake blocks or shoes F, and a curved strengthening or bracing rod G is also secured at its center to the bar E, and has its ends formed with loops G, which loosely engage the bar F near its ends, as shown.

The rear end of the rod E is attached to the rear face of the rear axle by means of a coiled spring H, the tension of which spring will serve to normally hold the rod E at the extreme forward limit of its movement, thus carrying the brake-bar F forward a suficient distance to remove the brake-shoes from contact with the wheels.

In operation, the several parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, as the wagon is about to descend an incline the rod A, suitably attached to the neck-yokes, as described, will be forced backward, thus forcing the brake-shoes into contact with the wheels. As soon as this backward pressure is removed by reason of a change in the grade of the road, which requires that the horses should exert some force in propelling the vehicle forward, the spring H will serve to cause the parts to again assume the positions shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1, In an automatic vehicle-brake, the coinbination, with the running-gear and tongue of a vehicle, of a sliding rod movable Within staples or guides attached to the lower face of the tongue and having; hinged connection with one end of the bar 0, the opposite end of which bar is pivotally connected with a clevis D, the casing C, loosely sleeved over the joint between the sliding rod and bar C, and of suflicient diameter to permit the required play thereof, the rod E,loosely sleeved within keepers e and the brake'bar carried by the rod E and provided with brake blocks orshoes, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

2. The herein-described automatic Vehiclebrake, the same comprising, in combination with the running-gear and pole of a vehicle, a sliding rod movable within keepers or staples attached to the lower face of thepole, the clevis, the bar or link 0, having hinged connections at its ends with the rod and clevis, respectively, the rod E, having hinged connection at its forward end with the clevis and its rear end extended to the rear of the rear axle, the spiral spring H, connecting the rear end of said rod With the rear axle, and the brake-bar carried by the rod E and provided with brake blocks or shoes, and the curved strengthening-rod G, secured at its center to the bar or rod E and having its ends formed into loops loosely embracing the brake'bar, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatu re in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH PINKNEY GREGORY. Witnesses:

.T. K. BATES, J. E. GRIFFIN. 

